Style Formatting Writing Chicago Document Follow Rules Guides

When Americans write formally, they need to follow "formatting and style guides," or rules about how things should be written. This is especially true for "academic writing" (writing in a university) and for "publications" (newspapers, magazines, and other materials that are shared with the public). Some of the most common formatting and style guides are APA, MLA, Chicago, and AP, although many businesses and organizations have their own formatting and style guides, too.

Most university students are familiar with APA and MLA styles. The American Psychological Association (APA) developed the APA style, which is used for many research papers and scientific writing. The Modern Language Association (MLA) created the "MLA Style Guide," which is used for most other academic writing.

The Chicago Manual of Style is published by the University of Chicago Press. It "covers" (discusses) correct English grammar and presents many "guidelines" (suggested rules) for formatting and style. Many businesses ask their employees to follow the Chicago style in their writing.

Finally, the Associated Press, which is the largest "news agency" (an organization that writes news stories) in the United States, prints the AP Stylebook, which is followed by many American newspapers and journalists.

There are many differences between these four formatting and style guides, but the biggest difference is probably in their "bibliography" or "list of works cited," which is a list that shows where the author found his or her information. It is important that this information be listed "consistently" (in the same way each time) so that readers can easily understand where the information is coming from. The formatting and style guides also have "strict" (always the same, without changing) rules for how quotations should be "cited" (how one lets the reader know who said something that is quoted) in the text.